Faster information on new medicines for health service

Senior NHS clinicians and healthcare managers will benefit from clear, advanced information about forthcoming new medicines following a review by the National Prescribing Centre (NPC) after productive discussions with the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI).

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​These individuals and their organisations will benefit from two new types of NPC 'On the Horizon' bulletin to keep them up-to-date with emerging key treatments. Future Medicines will give details of some of the most significant new medicines around six months before they are launched and Rapid Review will provide relevant additional information on these medicines, within two months of their launch.

The new scheme will involve more effective and timely communication and cooperation between the NPC and the relevant pharmaceutical companies to ensure information provided to NHS organisations is as timely, comprehensive and useful as possible. The new style bulletins will continue to be effectively co-ordinated with the NICE appraisals process.

Martin Anderson, Director of Commercial Affairs at the ABPI said: "By further improving the provision, to NHS organisations, of timely and useful high-quality information about new medicines, we hope it will support and encourage the appropriate uptake of new, innovative medicines".

"Patients will stand to benefit if the NHS is well informed, in advance, of the latest key developments in medication as they emerge".

Clive Jackson, Chief Executive of the NPC said: "We welcome the constructive discussions undertaken with the ABPI and the opportunities these have presented for further improving effective professional links with the pharmaceutical industry."

"By building on existing working relationships and improving communication systems, the NPC and its partners expect to be able to provide more comprehensive and timely advance information to relevant decision-makers, working within the NHS in England. This should help them to plan for the appropriate introduction of key new medicines, to the benefit of patient care, as soon as possible".

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The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry

is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales
(registered number 09826787) and its registered office is at
7th Floor Southside,105 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6QT.
Telephone +44 (0) 207 9303477

The Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority (PMCPA) was established by The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry to operate the ABPI Code of Practice for the Pharmaceutical Industry independently of the ABPI. The PMCPA is a division of ABPI which is a company registered in England and Wales (registered number 09826787) with its registered office at 7th Floor, Southside, 105 Victoria Street, London SW1E 6QT.

The Office of Health Economics (OHE) is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (registered number 09848965) and its registered office is at 7th Floor Southside, 105 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6QT. OHE provides independent research, advisory and consultancy services on policy implications and economic issues within the pharmaceutical, health care and biotechnology sectors.